Category Archives: Bodhisattva

U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter visited the Vietnamese Asian American Community Center located in Rochester, New York to honor and recognize the gallant efforts contributed by the diverse Asian American communities of the 21st century. Slaughter was in hand to commemorate the Vietnamese Americans’ tribute to honor the sacrifices and enormous contributions put forth by their parents and elders comprising the tapestry of America’s rich and modern human legacy.

As U.S. President Obama declared, “Generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders AAPI have helped make America what it is today. Their histories recall bitter hardships and proud accomplishments — from the laborers who connected our coasts one-and-a-half centuries ago and offers us an opportunity to celebrate the vast contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to our Nation, reflect on the challenges still faced by AAPI communities, and recommit to making the American dream a reality for all.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise many ethnicities and languages, and their myriad achievements embody the American experience. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have started businesses, including some of our Nation’s most successful and dynamic enterprises. AAPI men and women are leaders in every aspect of American life — in government and industry, science and medicine, the arts and our Armed Forces, education and sports.

Over the centuries, we have maintained a long, rich history of engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, and our AAPI communities have been essential to strengthening the economic, political, and social bonds we share with our partners around the world.

As we celebrate centuries of trial and triumph, let us rededicate ourselves to making our Nation a place that welcomes the contributions of all people, all colors, and all creeds, and ensures the American dream is within reach for all who seek it.”

-U.S. President Obama, May 2012 Excerpts of President Obama’s Proclamation of Asian American Pacific Islanders